John Cash, front left, organizer of the Climb to Conquer Cancer, is shown with many of Saturday’s participants as they begin the climb of the Saluda Grade on U.S. 176.

Before Saturday’s sixth annual Climb to Conquer Cancer, John Cash, affixed a photograph of Jenna Phipps to the back of his bike seat. Cash, who completed all five loops on Holbert Cove and Green River Cove Roads, plus the ride up and back down the Saluda Grade, for 116 miles and 11,000 feet of vertical gain), said he felt great after his effort, in part, because Jenna, who passed away from cancer the previous day, was with him all the way. One other rider completed four of the arduous loops, while others completed from one to three loops, plus the ride up and down the grade. Donations to the Gibbs Cancer Center’s Survivorship program in Spartanburg, and to the Jenna Phipps Relief Fund, to help offset the family’s huge medical expenses, are still being accepted at Nature’s Storehouse, 427 S. Trade Street, Saluda, NC 28782 (828 859 6356).

Cyclists listening to John Cash, just before they began their ride west on U.S. 176 toward the 21-mile loop of Holbert Cove and Green River Cove roads, that ends with a climb of the seventeen switchbacks on Green River Cove Road.

Participants in Saturday;s sixth annual Climb to Conquer Cancer, met two representatives of the Gibbs Cancer Center’s Survivorship program. They were survivorship nurse practitioner Crystal Humphries, left, and survivorship program coordinator Stacey Kindall, both of whom were generous with time and materials.

Ralph Veytia of Spartanburg is familiar with many of Polk County’s excellent cycling routes. Veytia was one of the cyclists in Saturday’s sixth annual Climb to Conquer Cancer, benefitting both the Gibbs Cancer Center’s Survivorship program and the Jenna Phipps Relief Fund.

Cyclists in Saturday’s Climb to Conquer Cancer enjoyed more than excellent riding conditions. They got an escort from the ride’s start at the Tryon Youth Center, up the Saluda Grade, on U.S. Rt. 176, by members of the Polk County Sheriff’s Dept. Here, ride founder and organizer John Cash, center, is flanked by Polk County Sheriff’s Dept. Captain Scott Holt, left, and Polk County Sheriff Don Hill.